FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 6

FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

Fjjian papers to hand by the steamor Arawat* contain copies of correspondence between the Annexation Committee, Sir George Grey, aud tho New Zealand Government. On April 15 the committee addressed a long communication to Sir George Groy, directing his attention to tho annexation movement, as one "who has for very many years taken a special interest in the commercial and political development of the various South Sea groups ; who has allowed no opportunity to escape for forwarding these objects, and who is keenly alive to the desirability of uniting the Islands more closely with the colony to which they should look as their natural head." The committee then proceed to explain the causes which have led to the present annexation movement, and nay : " For New Zealand it 'iB anticipated that the political assistance so rendered will secure a sensible extension of her oommerco, open up a wider market for her products, and more firmly establish her position as the colony oxeroising the dominant influence in the South Seas." fn reply Sir George Grey, writing under date May 6, says :—" I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 15th alt., informing me that a committee has been formed at Levuka to aid a publio movement, having for its objeot the incorporation of Fiji with New Zealand. The receipt of this information ban afforded me much pleasure. Sine* 1847, whon I made with the assent of the ten principal chiefs of Fiji, the first attempt to incorporate these two countries, I have on various occasions sought to promote such a union as ia now contemplated, believing it would prove advantageous to the European and native population of Fiji as well as to New Zealand. When in 1883 I was preparing in Auckland the New Zealand Annexation and Federation Act, the Hon. R, B. Leefe, to whom you allude in your letters, was also in this city, and I took care to avail myeelf of hie opinion, which he very kindly gave me, so that I might draft that measure in a manner which w»uld meet the wishes of the inhabitants of Fiji. Subsequently, when Mr. Leefe and one of his brothor delegates, a very able man, were returning from Sydney after the Conference regarding federation had terminated, they each addressed letters to me on the subject of a union with Fiji. I refrained, however, from entering into any correspondence on this question, as my wish was that any movement for a usion between Fiji and New Zealand should emanate from the former place and be a purely voluntary one. Events having turned out exactly as I desired, I shall now with pleasure comply with the wishes of the Fiji annexation committee as detailed in your letter. Will you be good enough to express to them my gratitude for their having so energetically taken up an object in which I have for so many years taken so deoD an interest."

Commenting on the question of annexation, the Fiji Times says:—"The ultimate political setting to New Zealand of Fiji is merely a matter of time. But as upon it depends the sole chance of our political emancipation, it is for us to accelerate aa much aa possible the march of events. This can be done to good purpose with Sir George Grey's assistance, and there is in the prospect now before us every assurance that the combined effort cannot fail of success within a reasonable period."